Understanding Invasive Species

Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

Being a responsible hobbyist extends beyond your aquarium or water garden.

Here's what you can do to help protect your local wetlands and waterways.

Do Not Releaseany aquarium or water garden plants or fish into ocean environments, local lakes or streams. They may become nuisance invaders crowding out native species and damaging local habitat for fish, birds, insects, and amphibians.

Please Do Your Partto protect our environment. Choose your plants and fish carefully, care for them responsibly, and if needed, dispose of them properly.

What to do with unwanted fish or plants:

Trade or give to another aquarist or pond-keeper

Donate to a local aquarium, elementary school, or biology department

Sell or return to a local aquarium shop dealer

Proper disposal of unwanted plantsincludes drying, burning, composting or sealing in a plastic bag for disposal in household trash.

Learn to Recognize Commonly-Used Species that are Invasive or Potentially So.LiveAquaria.com will not ship species that are listed by the DNR as Invasive to your state.